The Power of Reading!

Michael and I were discussing the power of inflection in one's voice, and what can be achieved if using the "right" inflection in certain instances.

We thought of the movie "Three Men and a Baby" when Tom Selleck was reading a work related magazine/document to the little girl and she was completely enthralled.

Or in the greatest series M*A*S*H when colonel Potter was trying to entertain some non-english speaking Korean children by reading a standard weaponry repair manual. He also noted that it didn't really matter what you read, but the way you read it.

Thus began the "reading" of "The Lorax", one of Michael's favorite books. (I was thinking of you Barb). The kids were not sitting by him when he began, but as soon as the inflections began, they gathered quickly.

Halloween!!!!

Can I just say I'm grateful my kids are still in the "cute" stage of costumes. NO blood and gore yet. And check out all of the smiles. We have been having a "sick" weekend and they even put on the happy faces (ok, well maybe Alex was trying to get into character) to go trick or treating.

Gardner Village

Gotta love "witches" at Gardner Village:

Loving Music

Ok, so I was reading Barb's post about music, and I so agree with her. All you have to do is name a song, hear something playing nearby and all of the sudden our hearts go all mushy, or energized.
I love to walk in the mornings listening to High School Musical 3. And I've had a couple of instances while listening to "A Night to Remember":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSxbOS4vqJQ
This video is not real great, but you'll get the idea. At about 2:40 of the 3:55 where it's like John Travolta meets Kevin Bacon (Footloose), then switches into some CHA CHA CHA, this is what is stuck in my head.
It's not uncommon for me to be at this part of the song while I'm on my last stretch and I need to slow down, and cool down. CAN'T DO IT! If you've ever seen me during this "episode" it must look like I've got something stuck in my pants. And I know if the roles were reversed and I was watching YOU doing this I would be laughing out loud! That's how corny it looks. My feet are trying to slow down, by my head is still going to town. Sooo....if you are out to make a buck on AFV, come tape me. It's almost a shoe in that you would win!

San Francisco

Michael & I had the privilege of spending a weekend, just the two of us, together. We headed to the coast. What a great 4 days we had.

A few Highlights of our weekend:

Our very first stop was a session at the Oakland Temple.

Driving the Golden Gate Bridge:

Toured Alcatraz, Wow:

A WHOLE lot of seal hanging out at Pier 39:

A very nice dinner on the pier at Alioto's:

Some fun ways to make bread at Boudin Bakery:

Shopping and LOTS & LOTS of walking on Fisherman's Warf:

Anyone remember "Princess Diaries":

Of course we visited Ghirardelli square (the chocolate is almost gone)!

We first road the cable car up Hyde Rd. to see Lombard St.

Then later....we actually walked up it. My calves are still burning.

More shopping and looking at Pier 39:

It was also Fleet Week while we were there. The Blue Angels are amazing:

Then we walked the Golden Gate Bridge:

Any many thanks to Heidi and Jordan who watched our kids. They LOVED having you stay with them!

I wonder what the inside of a vacuum looks like...hmmm...

Our old vacuum finally gave up the ghost after being "nursed" along for quite sometime. It was time to go in the garbage. Michael agreed to let our kids take it apart so it would fit in the garbage can easier. Then he ran to his grandpa's home. I stayed home, so I got to watch the "take a-part" event. Michael thought it would end up in three or four pieces. Surprise!!!!

The kids had a riot, even the neighbors joined in the fun.

Yes..my other 3 kids did actually start school...

Ok, so this is a reply to Melissa's comment teasing me about only posting Becca's 1st day of school. Did I take pictures of the other three for their first day this year...well...no. And would you like to know why, well of course you do. Megan started Junior High!!!!

That should be explanation enough. I felt like I was sending my oldest baby into a den of heathens and tigers. I was just there this morning, that is not far from the truth! All I could think about all day, was whether or not she was handling it without too many tears. I just counted down the minutes until the bus pulled up and was hoping and hoping she would get off happy - and she did.

She is adjusting just fine, just like I knew she would. But as the mother, it nearly killed me. Of all of the adjustments school related that our children go through, I think starting Junior High is it. Even going to High School isn't as bad.

I even talked to one mother the second day and her eldest son, who also started 7th grade, saw police taking away a boy handcuffed?!?!

See....I was not worried about photo taking that morning, I was just plain worried. This is how she started her education experience:

This is Megan her 1st day of preschool back in 1991. She came out and sat down on the ground all sad. For a fleeting moment I thought I was the worst Mom sending her without me. (Apparently she had an incident of wanting to be first, but it wasn't her turn).

So...in response "did your other three kids start school?". Yes they did. Liz and Alex did just wonderful, and I knew they would. I love having photos to remember the moments, but sometimes the camera is the last thing on my mind.